Accessing Electronic Resources: Glossary

Electronic resources: understanding terms and phrases

This page provides a glossary of the terms and phrases related to electronic resources that you may come across as you work with resources. This page is still in development; keep checking back for newly-added terms.

Glossary

Authentication

Logging into a resource

BoltonUniLib

Our library Twitter feed. Follow for library news and tips for getting the most out of electronic resources

Catalogue

A searchable, online database of the library's print collection, including links to ebooks where available. Use the catalogue to search for title, author or subject

Database

A searchable collection of academic material. A database can be full text, or bibliographic details only

Discover@Bolton

Search across the full text of multiple databases using a single, online interface

Ebook

An online book. Ebooks are the same as printed books in terms of content; they are just presented in a different format

E-journal

Another name for an electronic journal

E-journals portal

Our list of electronic journals. Search for title, ISSN or browse by subject. To search within these journals, use Discover@Bolton

Electronic journal

A journal that is available online

Electronic resource

A resource such as a book, journal or database that is available online

E-resource

Another name for an electronic resource

E-resources blog

Information on all kinds of electronic resources and online services that may be of interest, along with notifications of problems with resources (and resolutions!)

Full-text database

A database that provides access to full-text, for example, articles or books.

Journal

An academic publication of articles, sometimes known as a periodical, that can be available in print or electronic form

Logging in

The process of accessing an electronic resource. Use your network ID and password when prompted

Off-campus

Any location that is not the University of Bolton main campus or Queen's. Off-campus could be your home, your place of work, or even overseas

On-campus

The University of Bolton main campus, or Queen's

OPAC

An alternative term for catalogue (Online Public Access Catalogue)

Password

Your network password.

Periodical

A collection of academic articles, often known as a journal

Reading Lists Online

Online reading lists including links to electronic resources where available

Resource

A broad term which might refer to a database, for example, or a journal, either print or online

RLO

See Reading Lists Online

Subject Guides

Your one-stop shop for information relevant to your subject area, including links to your databases and downloadable help guides

Username

Your network ID. If you are student, this will typically take the form of abc1xyz.